I also wondered if the recent success of sea otter conservation efforts would be in conflict with abalone restoration. However, there seems to be evidence that,

I also wondered if the recent success of sea otter conservation efforts would be in conflict with abalone restoration. However, there seems to be evidence that, at least in the case of black abalone, abalone thrive in habitats where sea otters have been re-introduced[1]. One proposed mechanism for this is that sea otters prefer to eat sea urchins over abalone[2], and keeping the sea urchin population in check improves the overall health of the kelp forests which abalone need to survive. [1] https://futureoftheocean.wordpress.com/2015/12/18/sea-otters-and-abalone-a-special-synergy/ https://futureoftheocean.wordpress.com/2015/12/18/sea-otters... [2] https://www.montereycountyweekly.com/blogs/animal_blog/of-otters-abalone-and-urchins/article_d6c72216-b9bf-5723-a024-ce5a51635ffa.html https://www.montereycountyweekly.com/blogs/animal_blog/of-ot...